An In-Depth Analysis of the Determinants of Albanian Youth Emigration in the Post-Communist Era (1990-2020)

Aim: This study investigates youth emigration from Albania during the period 1990–2020, focusing on migration intentions among university students and the socio-economic factors influencing these intentions. The analysis concentrates on Geography students at the University of Tirana and places their migration expectations in comparative context with existing empirical evidence on Albanian medical students, a group typically associated with high-skilled migration.
Methods: The study combines a historical review of major phases of Albanian emigration with quantitative survey data collected from Bachelor and Master students in Geography at the University of Tirana (n = 354). Data on medical students are not collected directly but are drawn from secondary sources, including published studies and national reports, to support contextual comparison. Quantitative analysis employs descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, and chi-square tests to examine relationships between emigration intentions, socio-economic perceptions, field of study, and the role of social networks. Established migration frameworks, including push–pull theory and cumulative causation, guide the interpretation.
Results: The results show that emigration intentions among Geography students are high, with 68–76% reporting plans or strong expectations to migrate. The most frequently cited drivers include economic insecurity, low anticipated wages, limited career prospects, and perceived governance problems. Preferred destination countries are Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy. When compared with findings from studies on medical students, the results indicate that high emigration propensity is not limited to internationally competitive professions.
Implications and Limitations: The findings suggest that youth emigration in Albania reflects broader labor-market and institutional constraints rather than discipline-specific opportunity structures alone. However, as the study is based on a single academic institution and self-reported intentions, the results should be interpreted as exploratory and not fully generalizable to all Albanian students.

Albania; brain drain; inequality

1. Abel, G. J., Brottrager, M., Cuaresma, J. C., & Muttarak, R. (2019). Climate, conflict and forced migration. Global Environmental Change, 54, 239–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2018.12.003 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Belmonte, M., & McMahon, S. (2019). Searching for clarity: Defining and mapping youth migration. International Organization for Migration. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Bonifazi, C., Carletto, G., Davis, B., & Zezza, A. (2003). Albanian migration: A portrait of the 1990s. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 4(1), 5–22. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Brooks, R., & Meçe, M. (2022). Youth mobility in the Western Balkans. Southeastern Europe, 46(2), 245–268. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Carletto, G., Davis, B., Stampini, M., & Zezza, A. (2006). A country on the move: International migration in post-communist Albania. International Migration Review, 40(4), 767–785. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-7379.2006.00044.x [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Çaro, E., Bailey, A., & Van Wissen, L. J. G. (2014). Exploring links between internal and international migration in Albania: A view from internal migrants. Population, Space and Place, 20(3), 264–276. https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.1763 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Civici, A., Alia, A., Doko, A., & Gëdeshi, I. (2020). Tiparet e rritjes ekonomike në Shqipëri, 1992–2018. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. EMN. (2016). Annual report on migration and asylum. European Migration Network. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Galtung, J. (1969). Violence, peace, and peace research. Journal of Peace Research, 6(3), 167–191. https://doi.org/10.1177/002234336900600301 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Gëdeshi, I., & King, R. (2018). Research study into brain gain: Reversing brain drain with the Albanian scientific diaspora. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Gëdeshi, I., & King, R. (2020). The actual and potential migration of students from Albania: A putative brain drain? Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. INSTAT. (2015). Të rinjtë në Shqipëri: Sfidat në kohët që jetojnë. Institute of Statistics of Albania. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. INSTAT. (2017). Population and housing census highlights. Institute of Statistics of Albania. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. INSTAT. (2021a). Migration statistics: 2011–2020. Institute of Statistics of Albania. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. INSTAT. (2021b). Gender and migration report. Institute of Statistics of Albania. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. INSTAT & IOM. (2013). Return migration and reintegration in Albania. Gent-Grafik. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Kelly, P. (2013). The changing landscape of youth transitions. Journal of Youth Studies, 16(1), 1–16. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. King, R. (2017). Theorising new European youth mobilities. Population, Space and Place, 24(1), e2117. https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.2117 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Kopliku, B., & Çaro, E. (2022). The role of voluntary return migration in supporting economic development in Albania. In W. Bartlett & M. Uvalić (Eds.), Towards economic inclusion in the Western Balkans (pp. 223–242). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06112-7_13 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. McKinney, C. (2007). The Otranto route and Albanian irregular migration. Mediterranean Politics, 12(2), 241–260. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Milasi, S. (2020). Youth unemployment and outward migration in Albania. Journal of Balkan Economic Studies, 28(3), 45–61. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth. (2019). Annual statistics report. Government of Albania. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Noja, G. G., Cristea, M., Ștefea, P., & Sala, A. (2018). Youth migration and labour market disparities. Sustainability, 10(9), 3086. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10093086 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. OECD. (2004). Migration flows in Southeastern Europe. OECD Publishing. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Papathimiu, S. (2012). The demographic and economic development of Albania during and after the decline of the communist regime (1945–2010). Treballs de la Societat Catalana de Geografia, 101, 101–118. https://doi.org/10.2436/20.3002.01.5 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Rawls, J. (1971). A theory of justice. Harvard University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Ryan, B., & Mitsilegas, V. (2010). Extraterritorial immigration control: Legal challenges. Martinus Nijhoff. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Sen, A. (1999). Development as freedom. Oxford University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Shehu, A. (2018). Doctors leaving Albania. Together for Life / Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Transparency International. (2019). Corruption Perceptions Index 2019. https://www.transparency.org/cpi2019 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. UNDP. (2018). Reversing brain drain with the Albanian scientific diaspora. United Nations Development Programme. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Vullnetari, J., & King, R. (2008). Internal and international migration: Evidence from Albania. European Societies, 10(2), 177–203. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Vullnetari, J., & King, R. (2015). Remittances, gender and development: Albania’s society and economy in transition. I.B. Tauris. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. World Bank. (2011). Migration and remittances factbook (2nd ed.). World Bank Publications. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. World Bank. (2016). South East Europe regular economic report. World Bank Publications. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. World Migration Report. (2000). World migration report 2000. International Organization for Migration. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• The Impact of Ownership Structure on Dividend Payout Policy of Listed Plantation Companies in Sri Lanka
• Urban Sustainability in North-East India: A Study through the lens of NER-SDG index
• Performance Assessment of Predictive Forecasting Techniques for Enhancing Hospital Supply Chain Efficiency in Healthcare Logistics
• The Fractured Self in Julian Barnes' Postmodern Fiction: Identity Crisis and Deflation in Metroland and the Sense of an Ending
• Impact of Flood on the Employment, Labour Productivity and Migration of Agricultural Labour in North Bihar